You may have them in your cupboards. Maybe, you use them, still. Beware: they are dangerous, illegal, harmful… and are the subject of a recall or ban by the European sanitary authorities. Underneath, you may find all the cosmetic products targeted by the RAPEX alert system this week: hand sanitizers with alcohol levels that are insufficient and an eyelash serum containing a hazardous ingredient.
Hand sanitizer
Brand: Vecteur Energy
Name: Hydroalcoolic Antibactérien
Batch number: 3 416381 960531
Type: Argent Colloïdal 200 ppm, Lavande
• Country of origin: France
• Notifying country: France
Risk type: health
The product contains an insufficient amount of ethanol (measured value: ≤ 35%). Consequently, it might not kill bacteria or viruses, which could then reach the user.
Additionally, the presence of ethanol is not accompanied by the corresponding clearly visible and appropriate hazard pictograms and warnings. Users have therefore no evident information on the flammability of the product.
The product does not comply with the Biocidal Products and the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulations.
Measures ordered by public authorities (to Manufacturer): recall of the product from end users
Hand sanitizer
Brand: Shield
Name: Hand Sanitiser Gel
• Country of origin: United Kingdom
• Notifying country: United Kingdom
Risk type: health
The product contains an insufficient amount of ethanol and propan-2-ol (measured values: ≤ 0.05% and ≤ 0.1%, respectively).
Consequently, it does not kill bacteria or viruses, which could then reach the user.
The product does contain methanol (measured value: 3.4%), which is acutely toxic to the central nervous system and the eye.
Ingestion or contact with methanol can lead to blindness and death.
Furthermore, the presence of methanol is not accompanied by the corresponding hazard pictograms and warnings.
Users have therefore no information on the toxicity and flammability of the product.
The product does not comply with the Biocidal Products and the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulations.
Measures taken by economic operators: making the marketing of the product subject to prior conditions, removal of this product listing by the online marketplace (by manufacturer)
Eyelash growth serum
Brand: Vivele
Name: Spectacular Eyelash Conditioner
Batch number: NC 8236
Barcode: 4 260267 890073
• Country of origin: Austria
• Notifying country: Germany
Risk type: chemical
The product contains the active substance cloprostenol isopropyl ester (measured value: 0.0012 %), which should be used under supervision of an ophthalmologist.
Cloprostenol isopropyl ester is a prostaglandin analogue, which could cause eye and ophthalmic defects in the user and should not be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women, as it may affect the child.
The product does not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation.
Measures taken by economic operators: removal of this product listing by the online marketplace, stop of sales (by retailer)
Source
• Rapid Alert System - Weekly Reports, Report 26, European Commission, June 26, 2020